God, help me to love in word and in works even when others are unlovely.

If you do the works of love before the emotions match up, the feelings of love will eventually follow along.

~~Jill Briscoe 

This morning’s prayer and meditation for Sally’s healing comes from Take Heart, Oh God: Riches from the Greatest Christian Women Writers of All Time.

Movies make love look easy—romance is something you “fall into.” But real love often involves more of a commitment than a good feeling. Sometimes we have to do love even when we don’t feel love.

At times it’s just plain hard to love. Those closest to us can hurt us the most. We don’t feel like loving the husband who is acting insensitive, or the child who is being rebellious, or the parent who is overbearing, or the friend who is demanding. We can even justify why we shouldn’t have to show any love whatsoever!

But love is more than just a feeling; instead, it is a choice. We do the works of love and let the emotions catch up later. As Jill Briscoe says, eventually the feelings will follow along. We may not always feel like loving, but God can give us the grace to love even the unlovely.

Prayer for Meditation

God, help me to love in word and in works even when others are unlovely.

Scripture for Meditation

If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.  

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 1 Corinthians 13:1-7

Music for Meditation

The Love of God

If you feel led to do so, please post a note of encouragement in the comment section below, or send your note by email to PrayersForSally@gmail.com